Publications Details
Modal testing using a full instrumentation technique
The Modal Group at Sandia National Laboratories performs a variety of tests on structures ranging from weapons systems to wind turbines. The desired number of data channels for these tests has increased significantly over the past several years. Tests requiring large numbers of data channels makes roving accelerometers impractical and inefficient. The Modal Lab has implemented a method in which the test unit is fully instrumented before any data measurements are taken. This method uses a 16 channel data acquisition system and a mechanical switching setup to access each bank of accelerometers. A data base containing all transducer sensitivities, location numbers, and coordinate information is resident on the system enabling quick updates for each data set as it is patched into the system. This method has reduced test time considerably and is patched into the system. this method has reduced test time considerably and is easily customized to accommodate data acquisition systems with larger channel capabilities.